Improvements of an FDTD-based surge simulation code and its application to the lightning overvoltage calculation of a transmission tower

This paper presents new features recently added to a general-purpose surge simulation code based on the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. The added features include various-shape conductor models, lumped-parameter circuit-element models, a lightning-channel model, and an integrated analysis environment (IAE). For precisely modelling the shapes of various conductors, the following conductor models have been added: inclined thin wire; disc; square plate; cylinder; cone; and quadrangular pyramid. The lumped-parameter circuit-element models allow the user to represent the lumped impedance of an apparatus placed inside the analysis space. The lightning-channel model realizes a return-stroke development at a speed slower than the light speed. The IAE includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI), which allows the user to enter geometrical data in a visual way. It also provides a waveform plotting program for viewing voltage, current, electric-field, and magnetic-field waveforms and a movie program for displaying the animation of a transient electric/magnetic field intensity distribution. For an illustrative example, the lightning overvoltage calculation of a transmission tower is presented. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.